Shortage of raw materials near Tet, dry goods prices in the West fluctuate strongly

With less than a month left until Tet, the market for dried foods in the West, especially in Kien Giang, is increasing sharply due to a shortage of fish and shrimp.

Shrimp shortage due to people rushing to grow rice causes shrimp prices to increase sharply - Photo: BUU DAU

In Van Khanh commune, An Minh district, the drying atmosphere is busier than ever. Households are busy producing and preparing goods to serve the increased demand for the Lunar New Year.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Be Hue, who has more than 8 years of experience in drying, said that Tet is the time of year when the most dried products are produced. If normally her facility only sells about 200kg of dried products per month, during Tet this number increases to 700kg, bringing in significant profits.

However, this year's catch has decreased sharply due to the impact of the weather. The source of sea fish is scarce, causing the price of dried fish to increase by 10,000 - 30,000 VND/kg compared to last year. Popular dried fish such as dried anchovies, barracuda, croaker, catfish, and yellowstripe scad all fluctuate at 130,000 - 160,000 VND/kg.

In particular, fresh catfish is almost no longer locally available, forcing production facilities to import raw materials from neighboring provinces.

In Giong Rieng district, Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhanh is also busy with her dried fish production facility. Products such as dried loach, snakehead fish and dried frog are popular with customers, especially during Tet.

Currently, the price of dried loach is up to 550,000 VND/kg, snakehead fish is 380,000 VND/kg, and dried porcupine snakehead fish is 250,000 - 270,000 VND/kg.

Ms. Nhanh shared that the price of dried fish often increases sharply before Tet when demand is 3-4 times higher than usual, due to the scarcity of fresh fish and high input prices. After Tet, the price of dried fish often decreases when the price of fresh ingredients also decreases.

In addition to dried fish, the dried shrimp market is also affected by a shortage of raw materials. Ms. Le Thi Kim Thoa, director of Hieu Phat Cooperative in Vinh Thuan district, said that raw shrimp prices have increased sharply this year.

The shift from shrimp farming to rice farming due to high rice prices has significantly reduced shrimp supply. The price of fresh whiteleg shrimp has increased by VND15,000/kg, causing the price of dried shrimp to increase to VND580,000 - 780,000/kg.

Production facilities in the West are currently racing to meet the increased demand during Tet, but raw material shortages and rising input costs are creating great pressure, pushing dried product prices to their highest level in many years.

Sesame crackers "seven times fire" are popular during Tet holiday

These days, the kitchens of Da Nang sesame crackers production facilities are red hot and operating at full capacity - Photo: THANH NGUYEN

In the last days of the year, sesame crackers in Da Nang are bustling with fire, operating at full capacity to provide delicious batches of cakes in time to serve the Lunar New Year 2025.

Sesame crackers, also known as “seven-fire” cakes, are a famous specialty with a strong hometown flavor. With a light sweetness, fragrant roasted sesame flavor, and crispy crust, this cake has been associated with the lives of people in the Central region for many generations.

Quang Chau village (Hoa Chau commune, Hoa Vang district) is famous for making sesame crackers. This is not only a unique cultural feature but also a stable source of income for local people.

Mr. Tran Xu’s family has maintained a sesame crackers bakery for over 40 years. During Tet, the bakery is busier than ever with about 10 workers working continuously. According to Mrs. Nguyen Thi Nghi, Mr. Xu’s wife, to make delicious, standard cakes, the baker must bake the cakes through seven fires to achieve the perfect crispiness.

Sesame crackers also require precise ingredients, from 13/2 rice for fluffiness, white sugar from Quang Ngai, to quality sesame from Thanh Hoa.

Not only Quang Chau village, the sesame crackers craft village "Ba Lieu Me" in Cam Le district is also in peak season.

Mr. Huynh Duc Sol, the owner of the facility, shared that this year's Tet holiday, cake production increased by more than 30% compared to last year, reaching about 400,000 - 500,000 products. Currently, more than 40 workers are taking turns continuously to complete orders.

Small sesame crackers are sold for 50,000 - 70,000 VND/box (50 pieces), and are a popular choice for worship and display on the altar during Tet.

Although the sesame crackers making profession is facing challenges due to the lack of young people following the profession, families like Mr. Xu or Mr. Sol are still persistent in keeping the fire burning, preserving the traditional beauty through each cake.

Every Tet season, sesame crackers not only bring a familiar flavor but also symbolize connection and preserve the soul of the countryside in the midst of modern life.

Young people eagerly take Tet photos at the ancient-style temple

Nam Son Pagoda is famous for its ancient architecture and poetic space, attracting many young people to take Tet photos - Photo: THANH NGUYEN

In the days leading up to Tet, Nam Son Pagoda in Hoa Chau Commune, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang becomes an attractive destination for young people.

With its ancient architecture, red tiled roofs, rows of gilded houses and poetic space, the pagoda is likened to the setting in historical movies, attracting many people to take pictures.

Ms. Xuan Vi (24 years old, Hai Chau district) shared that the cool and sunny weather these days is ideal for taking Tet photos.

"The poetic scenery at Nam Son Pagoda helps me feel the traditional Tet atmosphere more clearly. Taking photos here is not only to preserve memories but also a meaningful way for me to welcome a new year," Vi said.

In the afternoon, the number of people coming to the pagoda increases. Young people wear traditional ao dai, modernized ao dai with bright colors such as red, yellow, blue, brightening up the peaceful space. Many people also bring accessories such as conical hats, paper fans, and lucky money bags to create highlights for their Tet photos.

Le Do Nha Phuong (22 years old, Ngu Hanh Son district) chose the concept "going to the temple at the beginning of the year" for her Tet photo album.

"The spacious space and beautiful architecture of Nam Son Pagoda help me easily choose the right angle to take photos without having to jostle. Moreover, the photos here are also very "hot" on social networks," Phuong shared.

Besides taking photos, many people also took the opportunity to burn incense and pray for peace and happiness in the new year.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thieu-hut-nguyen-lieu-can-tet-gia-kho-mien-tay-bien-dong-manh-20250105084707493.htm